The Alliance Bristol Division finals kicked off this past
weekend, and the Stratford Canadian Tire Major Bantam Warriors continued their
winning ways, going up 4 points to none in the eight point series, with 4-0 and
3-1 wins over the London Jr. Mustangs White.
Stratford travelled to London Saturday night and backed by shutout goaltending by Kari Dingman, opened the series with a 4-0 win over the hometown Mustangs. Goal scorers for the Warriors were Jared LeSouder, Jacob Wiles, Josiah Kraayenbrink, and Cohen LeSouder, with Callum McMann, Ben Tenhag, Noah Rusen Steele and Jared LeSouder picking up assists. The Stratford defensive corps of Callan Ferguson, Tate Gaylor, Kayden Schooley, Riley Mathieson and McMann were instrumental in the win, limiting second chances and moving the puck out of their own zone well throughout the game.
The two teams had a quick turnaround, and met Sunday at the Allman Arena for an afternoon tilt, this time with the Warriors coming out victorious by a 3-1 margin. London came out strong to start the game and jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, a lead that may have been more if not for the strong play of Stratford net minder Carson Knott. London continued to hold the edge in play, until a shorthanded tally by Noah Rusen Steele late in the first turned the tide, and Stratford began to gain the advantage in play from there. Adam Windsor scored a pretty backhand goal to give Stratford the lead, on a great outlet pass from Tate Gaylor, and then Jared LeSouder, with his second of the weekend, tipped a Riley Mathieson point shot home to put the hometown Warriors up by two, never looking back.
Game three in the series is Saturday night in London at the Kinsmen Arena at 7:30, with game four back in Stratford next Tuesday at the Molson Arena, with 7:45 puck drop.